How to get higher education in the US

On the one hand, training in America - an international diploma and a real chance to settle overseas. On the other - the difficulties of adaptation, moving, language barriers and serious financial costs.

When I decided to get a master's degree in America helped me knowledge in this matter: for several years, I worked in an organization that sends students to study abroad. This experience has allowed to save two thirds of the cost of training and by example to make sure that it was not the standard approach really works.

The choice of profession: who to be?

One of the most versatile specialties For Studying Abroad - IT. In addition to the fact that the profession is in demand in the United States and is well paid, after graduation can find work anywhere in the world. Obtaining a bachelor's degree typically takes four years, Master - six years. The same applies to professions in the fields of economics, finance or marketing.

With medical or legal training can be difficult, with more on the level of income and a Study Visa. In Russia and America are different legal systems. Returning after the training in their own country, you will be limited in the choice of work. Of course, you can get into an international corporation, but then it is more logical to stay in the United States. He understands the American side, so they can refuse to educational visa. In addition, the study lasts 8-10 years, which is long and expensive.

Tuition: a local resident or a foreigner?

If a student - a local state (state resident), on average he pays for his studies at a college or university in three times less than a student from another country or even another state. In English it is called in-state and out-of-state tuition. As you can imagine, the locals become difficult. To do this, you must either be a US citizen or have a different legal immigration status (for example, to be the holder of a green card).

It is a known fact, which leads to a sad conclusion: the cost of training for foreigners is very high. But there is a little trick about which few people know: you can become for the state of a local resident, they are not. All perfectly legal and very real. How do you do it? One of the workers of options - program of international cooperation between regions and cities of Russia and the United States. They can be found on the phrase "sister cities» (sister cities).

For example, the cities of the Russian Far East have such programs with the US cities (Alaska, Washington and Oregon), as well as Japan and China. Therefore, the students of Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Kamchatka and Chukotka can study in US colleges and universities at the price of in-state tuition.

Under the program residents of the Russian sister city to pay for tuition as much as would pay for it local.

As part of the same international cooperation exist scholarships for students from the towns and sister-regions. Sometimes they assume constant prices, sometimes temporarily. But in any case this is a significant savings on tuition.

To obtain preferential terms student It must prove that he actually lives in the settlement and is entitled to special conditions. In most cases, a passport with registration or transfer of scans of receipts for utility services with the student's name and city of the data on the form. Also, no one stops to move to sister city, rent an apartment, and then show the contract to eat habitation or make temporary registration.

Since the institution of registration unfamiliar to Americans, then a single sample does not happen documents. Different schools can meet the different documents. As a rule, it is quite formal moment.

As a result, a couple of pieces of paper can significantly reduce the cost of training. Russian students are repeatedly received in the educational institutions of America on such programs. This method does not always work, but definitely worth a try.

Often, by the staff college or university is not aware of these bonuses, so you have to explain it to them with documents in hand. The documents can be found on the websites of educational institutions and local municipalities. We have had several such cases, and they all came to an end in favor of our students.

Where do: college or university?

You have decided to pursue higher education in the United States. It would seem logical to apply in university (Enter the US without examinations, tender documents) and entering the first year of the Faculty, which you are interested. Right? And here and there!

For example, if it is written in the UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles), They'll tell you that the cost of training is about 35 thousand dollars a year for California residents and more than 60 thousand dollars a year for residents of other states. And this is only for study. Agree, a lot of money even for the locals, and only for foreigners who need to study more in addition to build a life from scratch, the sum of all looks huge. Multiply this number by 4-5 (it will take many years to obtain higher education in the United States), and the amount will frighten even the most purposeful person.

But there is one trick that can save up receipts. Objects begin majoring in universities only from the third year, it is wise first enroll in one of the local colleges (Community College), who have accreditation in relation to University. In this college, you can unlearn the first two years, and only then transfer to a university for a third, and sometimes directly to the fourth or fifth year. So you will save significantly. Year of college costs sometimes 5-6 times cheaper than the university.

Here are the most popular budget Colleges of America:

• Seattle Central Community CollegeWashington. After studying at this college, you can do almost any university in America. For foreigners, the requirements for English language proficiency is not.
• Community Colleges of SpokaneWashington. College program is designed so that the student can begin training with one of the quarters of the year, not necessarily in September. The College is working with many American universities.
• Hawaii Community College, Hawaii. In this college, you can improve your level of English language intensive language courses. After training, students enroll in the University of Hawaii, and in other countries universities.
• East Los Angeles CollegeCalifornia. It has about 30 000 students who, after graduating from college, opened the doors of many California universities.

Where to learn English at home or in the US?

If with English not so, then there are two options: to learn the language at home or come to America and getting knowledge out there. What good is the second option?

Firstly, the fact that you make the connection in a college or university, and get hands-on experience. Learn the language can be in special courses, training duration is a year and a half the cost - approximately 6-8 thousand dollars per year.

Second, you can start learning several times a year. This gives a more flexible schedule for admission to the language courses and to move to the United States.

Thirdly, it is better to do a language course of the college or university where you plan to study further. This will not only get acquainted with the peculiarities of the future of the institution, but may give advantages for admission.

Upon receipt

Imagine that you are in the United States, weaned in college and was transferred to the University. Are there any options to save at this stage? Of course. It all depends on the task that you have set. For example, To find a job on campus and earn extra money or apply for a scholarship, which can reduce study costs by 50-60%.

In the US, work is almost all students - both local and from other countries. Of course, the local choice is more, their no limits in the choice of work. But those who came on educational visas can not work more than 20 hours a week and only on campus. However, in some cases, schools allow you to work inside and outside, if it will provide a unique experience in their chosen profession.

Here is a list of scholarships that provide popular American universities:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - scholarships in the amount of from 36 to 43 thousand dollars are more than 90% of students each year. This amount covers almost the entire cost of tuition for the year.
• University of Illinois in Bloomington - scholarships size reaches 25 thousand dollars per academic year.
• Illinois State University - international students can receive presidential scholarship in the amount of up to 11 thousand dollars a year (44,000 for four years of undergraduate).
• University of Wisconsin - students can get a scholarship in the amount of one third of the cost of training.

Once again, I note that all of these tips I have experienced on ourselves and our students. All this is quite realistic. You just need to approach the process carefully and in detail.

results

Proceed in stages:

• Gather information about possible discounts.
• Select and enrolled in an appropriate language program.
• At the end of the English course to go to college.
• After two or three years, transferred to the University.

This scheme will allow to better adapt in a foreign country. By doing this you will save a lot of money on their studies without saving on quality.

see also

• What you should know before entering the foreign university →
• How to survive in the university: 10 tips for freshmen →
• TEST: How well do you understand the English vocabulary? →